A federal judge in Manhattan has allowed a lawsuit against FirstBank Puerto Rico to proceed, ruling that an Epstein victim's claim that the bank facilitated the financier's sex-trafficking operation can go forward under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Judge Jed Rakoff's opinion, published Wednesday, explains his earlier bottom-line order.
The plaintiff, Julia Molchonova, alleges that FirstBank maintained more than 30 accounts for Epstein and his entities over two decades, processed millions of dollars in transfers, and served as a banking reference. The court found these allegations go beyond routine banking services, especially given that other banks—including HSBC, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan Chase—dropped Epstein between 2007 and 2015, while FirstBank allegedly took advantage of those closures.
The TVPA requires showing that the defendant participated in a commercial sex trafficking venture, knew or should have known of its nature, and benefited financially. Judge Rakoff concluded that Molchonova plausibly alleged all three, noting the complaint describes an extensive, longstanding relationship and ignored red flags. The ruling does not decide the merits, only that the case can proceed.